31.   Bonds also got a boost from a rally in the dollar, and from declines in oil and gold prices, traders said.

32.   Bonds also got a lift after President Bill Clinton and congressional leaders agreed on a plan to balance the federal budget.

33.   Bonds also got a lift after the Fed said it was buying Treasury securities to alleviate a seasonal shortage of bank reserves caused by an influx of tax payments.

34.   Bonds also got help from an overnight rise in the yen, which improves the appeal of Japanese bonds to foreign investors.

35.   Bonds also got some support from an outright bond purchase by the Bank of Japan, said Kazuhiko Sano, a bond analyst at Sumitomo Capital Securities.

36.   Bonds also got support after a successful Ministry of Finance auction of four-year government bonds.

37.   Bonds also got support from a stronger yen, which rose against the dollar as the Bank of Japan did not step in and buy the currency.

38.   Bonds could also get a boost as stocks continue to sputter.

39.   Bonds could get a boost if more discouraging economic statistics are released, since that would further discourage talk of higher interest rates.

40.   Bonds did not get one of the two hits.